AIBU

[pembury1]

…to think the Child Maintenance system is completely broken!

I feel like I’m losing my mind and need a sense check.

I’m the receiving parent. CMS assessed maintenance based on HMRC figures.

I raised concerns that my ex is not declaring his true income. After a fighting battle, CMS referred it to Financial Investigations Unit.

FIU investigated for 9 months and confirmed there were undisclosed earnings. To give you an idea, original HMRC figures showed £20k earnings for the year, FIU found £164k!

3rd dec - letter received from FIU confirming the above.
10th Dec - letter uploaded on my CMS portal with adjusted figures and that my variation had been successful. Another letter uploaded same day says they can’t use these figures as they have reverted back to HMRC. Wtf!

When I called, I was told:
– The variation had “expired”
– They’d reverted back to HMRC figures
– I now need to apply for another investigation or Mandatory Reconsideration

So… after nearly 2 years of evidence, stress and an FIU investigation that proved my case, I’m basically back at square one.

Meanwhile I’m covering school costs, food, clubs, uniforms, everything while he continues life as normal, braiding the system with no repercussions!

AIBU to think this system actively enables parents to hide income?

And has anyone successfully challenged this without losing the will to live?

This is disgusting.
I really wish a government would make nrp pay for their children.
I don’t know what the answer is op, apart from the above. Why no government will tackle this is mind blowing. Meanwhile the taxpayer is picking up the tab.

To answer your question, I don’t know anyone who has a good word to say about the CMS, or whatever it is called. The divorced parents I know who have good relationships have just accepted responsibility for their children and not had to involve the CMS.

Thank you. That’s exactly how it feels.

What I find hardest is that this was investigated by CMS’s own Financial Investigations Unit, and undisclosed income was found yet because of how variations expire, it’s effectively ignored unless I start all over again.

I don’t object to scrutiny but I object to a system where the burden is permanently on the parent who’s already carrying the financial and emotional load.

It feels like the system only works if both parents act in good faith and completely collapses when one doesn’t.

Sorry you are going through this OP, it is shit. There is someone here trying to start a petition on this topic, but I think they are struggling to get interest (baffling on a site to support mums) https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/751159

HMRC seem to have no problem in knowing how much people earn to get their cut, seems bonkers that that information can't be joined up...

@midsomermurdererthank you. Do you have their profile by any chance. I may reach out to them!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5461294-ask-the-government-to-look-at-cms-for-landlords-inherited-wealth-and-business-owners was the thread